Matthew 13:54

KJV

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when he was come {G2064} into {G1519} his own {G846} country {G3968}, he taught {G1321} them {G846} in {G1722} their {G846} synagogue {G4864}, insomuch that {G5620} they {G846} were astonished {G1605}, and {G2532} said {G3004}, Whence {G4159} hath this man {G5129} this {G3778} wisdom {G4678}, and {G2532} these mighty works {G1411}?

Complete Jewish Bible

and went to his home town. There he taught them in their synagogue in a way that astounded them, so that they asked, "Where do this man's wisdom and miracles come from?

Berean Standard Bible

Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

American Standard Version

And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:54 describes Jesus' return to His hometown of Nazareth, where He taught in the local synagogue. His teaching and the reports of His miraculous deeds profoundly astonished the inhabitants, who, despite their familiarity with His humble origins, were forced to acknowledge the extraordinary wisdom and power He displayed. Their rhetorical questions about the source of His authority reveal their perplexity and the initial seeds of skepticism that would soon lead to rejection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks a pivotal transition point in Matthew's Gospel, concluding a significant section of parables (Matthew 13:1-53) and setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent rejection in His hometown (Matthew 13:55-58). Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has just finished explaining the parables of the kingdom to His disciples, emphasizing the hidden nature of the kingdom's truths and the varying responses to them. His return to Nazareth, His "own country," highlights the stark contrast between the receptive audiences in other regions and the skepticism He would face among those who knew Him best. The narrative flow moves from public teaching and private explanation to a direct confrontation with the familiar, revealing the challenge of receiving divine truth from an unexpected source.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nazareth was a small, unassuming village in Galilee, largely insignificant in the broader Roman-Jewish world. Jesus had grown up there, known as the son of Joseph, a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). Synagogues served as the central hub for Jewish community life, functioning as places of worship, education, and social gathering. It was customary for visiting rabbis or respected men to be invited to read from the Scriptures and offer commentary, which Jesus did. The astonishment of the Nazarenes stems from their deep-seated cultural expectations: they knew Jesus as an ordinary local, lacking formal rabbinic training or aristocratic lineage. For such a person to display profound wisdom and perform "mighty works" (miracles) challenged their understanding of how God typically worked, leading to a crisis of belief rooted in their familiarity and social hierarchy.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces and develops several crucial themes. Firstly, it underscores the **astonishment at Jesus' authority and power**, as the Nazarenes explicitly acknowledge His "wisdom" and "mighty works." This highlights the undeniable impact of His ministry, even on those predisposed to doubt. Secondly, it foreshadows the theme of **rejection due to familiarity**, as their initial wonder quickly gives way to offense (as seen in [Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - Jesus' Rejection in Nazareth")). This illustrates the prophetic truth that "a prophet is not without honor except in his own town" ([Matthew 13:57](/matthew/13-57 "Matthew 13:57 - Jesus' Rejection in Nazareth")). Finally, the verse subtly touches on the **mystery of Jesus' identity**, as the people grapple with reconciling His humble origins with His divine capabilities, a question that permeates much of the Gospels, particularly in passages like [John 7:15](/john/7-15 "John 7:15 - The Jews Marvel at Jesus' Teaching").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **taught (Greek, _didáskō'_):** This verb signifies the act of instructing or imparting knowledge. In this context, it refers to Jesus' authoritative and insightful communication of divine truth, which went beyond mere recitation and conveyed profound understanding and spiritual depth.
* **astonished (Greek, _ekplḗssō'_):** Derived from words meaning "out" and "to strike," this term describes a powerful emotional reaction of being struck with amazement or wonder, often to the point of being overwhelmed or dumbfounded. It indicates that Jesus' teaching and reported works were utterly unexpected and profoundly impressive to His audience.
* **mighty works (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** This noun refers to inherent power, force, or ability, specifically miraculous power. In the New Testament, it frequently denotes the supernatural deeds performed by Jesus, which served as tangible demonstrations of divine authority and the presence of God's kingdom.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he was come into his own country,"**: This clause establishes the setting: Jesus' return to Nazareth, the place of His upbringing. The phrase "his own country" emphasizes the personal connection and the expectations that would naturally arise from His familiar background.
* **"he taught them in their synagogue,"**: This describes Jesus' action. Consistent with His practice throughout Galilee, He engaged in public instruction within the established religious gathering place, demonstrating His commitment to sharing the message of the kingdom within the Jewish community.
* **"insomuch that they were astonished,"**: This highlights the immediate and profound reaction of the Nazarenes. Their astonishment indicates that Jesus' teaching was not ordinary; it possessed an authority and insight that transcended what they expected from a local carpenter's son.
* **"and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?"**: This rhetorical question reveals the core of their perplexity and the nascent seeds of their unbelief. They acknowledged both His profound "wisdom" (deep understanding and insight) and His ability to perform "mighty works" (miracles), but they could not reconcile these divine attributes with His humble, familiar origins. Their question implies a challenge to His authority, wondering how an ordinary man could possess such extraordinary power.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 13:54 employs several literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question** ("Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?"), which, while seemingly seeking information, primarily serves to express the Nazarenes' profound bewilderment and their inability to explain Jesus' power within their preconceived notions. This question also creates **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience (readers) knows Jesus' true divine origin, while the Nazarenes, despite witnessing His power, remain ignorant. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** between Jesus' humble, familiar origins and the extraordinary, divine power and wisdom He demonstrates, setting up the subsequent narrative of rejection. Finally, the verse contains **Foreshadowing**, as the astonishment and questioning quickly lead to offense and unbelief in the following verses, illustrating a pattern of rejection Jesus would face.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:54 powerfully illustrates the human tendency to stumble over the unexpected manifestations of God's power and wisdom. The Nazarenes' astonishment, quickly followed by skepticism, reveals a common human failing: judging divine truth by earthly standards and allowing familiarity to breed contempt. This passage underscores the truth that God often chooses to work through channels that defy human expectations, challenging our preconceived notions of power, authority, and wisdom. It highlights the profound mystery of the Incarnation, where the divine Son of God took on humble flesh, leading many to overlook His true identity because of His ordinary appearance. The questions posed by the Nazarenes reflect a deeper theological struggle, questioning the source of Jesus' authority—a theme that recurs throughout the Gospels as people try to categorize or dismiss Him.

* [Mark 6:1-6](/mark/6-1-6 "Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus Rejected at Nazareth")
* [John 7:15](/john/7-15 "John 7:15 - How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?")
* [Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2-3 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - He was despised and rejected by men")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This passage serves as a poignant reminder that our perception of God's work can often be hindered by our own biases and assumptions. Just as the people of Nazareth struggled to reconcile Jesus' humble background with His divine power, we too can fall into the trap of dismissing truth or potential because it doesn't fit our expectations. We must cultivate a spiritual humility that allows us to recognize God's hand in unexpected places and through unexpected people. Are we open to wisdom that comes from sources we might deem ordinary or unqualified? Do we allow our familiarity with someone's past or social status to blind us to the profound work God might be doing through them? This verse challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to discern the genuine power and wisdom of God, regardless of the vessel. It calls us to examine our own hearts for any preconceived notions that might prevent us from fully embracing divine truth or witnessing God's transformative work in our midst.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be allowing familiarity or preconceived notions to blind me to God's work or truth?**
* **How does Jesus' rejection in His hometown challenge my understanding of how God chooses to operate?**
* **What can I do to cultivate a heart that is more open and discerning to God's wisdom and power, even when it appears in unexpected ways?**

### FAQ
**Why were the people of Nazareth astonished by Jesus' teaching and works?**

Answer: The people of Nazareth were astonished because they knew Jesus as an ordinary local, the son of a carpenter, who had grown up among them. They were familiar with His earthly origins and had no record of Him receiving formal rabbinic training or having any special status. Therefore, when He taught with profound wisdom and performed "mighty works" (miracles) that clearly demonstrated supernatural power, it defied all their expectations and understanding of who He was. Their astonishment stemmed from the stark contrast between the humble man they thought they knew and the divine authority and power He displayed, leading them to question the source of these extraordinary abilities, as seen in [Matthew 13:55-56](/matthew/13-55-56 "Matthew 13:55-56 - Is not this the carpenter's son?").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:54, depicting Jesus' rejection in His hometown, profoundly foreshadows the broader pattern of His life and ministry: the world's inability to recognize and receive its Creator. The Nazarenes' question, "Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?" encapsulates the central dilemma of humanity regarding Christ. They saw the evidence of divine power and wisdom, yet their familiarity with His humble humanity became a stumbling block. This mirrors the cosmic irony described in [John 1:10-11](/john/1-10-11 "John 1:10-11 - He was in the world, and the world knew him not"): "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Jesus, the very wisdom of God and the power of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God")), chose to humble Himself, taking on the form of a servant and growing up in an obscure village. His life perfectly fulfilled the prophecy of a Messiah who would be "despised and rejected of men" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - He was despised and rejected of men")), precisely because His divine glory was veiled in ordinary flesh. Thus, Nazareth's astonishment and subsequent rejection serve as a microcosm of the world's response to the incarnate Christ, revealing that true spiritual sight requires looking beyond outward appearances to perceive the divine reality within.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 7:15

And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

John 7:16

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

Matthew 7:28

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mark 6:1

¶ And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

Mark 6:6

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Matthew 4:23

¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Luke 4:16

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.